Alternators & Starters

When your vehicle is in need of an alternator or starter, you have found the right place. Desert Truck Service provides the finest quality new and replacement alternators and starters at affordable prices. Whether you just want to buy the parts you need, or have us do the repair for you, we are here to help.

What Does My Alternator Do?

Alternators are used in modern vehicles to charge the battery and to power the electrical system when the engine is running. While an alternator is a relatively simple component containing only a few parts, it plays a critical role in any vehicle's operation. Essentially it turns the mechanical energy of your engine's rotating crank shaft into electricity through induction. The current is used to power your vehicle's accessories, which can be anything from your headlights, windshield wipers and radio, to the winch on your truck.

The alternator also keeps your battery fully charged, providing the power it needs to start your vehicle. When an alternator begins to fail, or fails outright, your vehicle's battery begins to take up the slack. Even the best battery will run down, leaving you stranded in the driveway or on the side of the road.

Why Do I Need A Starter?

A starter is an electric motor, or other device designed to rotate an internal-combustion engine, which initiates the engine's operation under its own power. An electric starter motor or starting motor is the most common type used on gasoline engines and small diesel engines.

Your starter motor is either a permanent-magnet or a series-parallel wound direct current electric motor with a starter solenoid mounted on it. When current from your battery is applied to the solenoid, usually through a key-operated switch, the solenoid engages a lever that pushes out the drive pinion on the starter driveshaft and meshes the pinion with the starter ring gear on the flywheel of the engine. Over time, and with normal wear and tear, your starter will eventually fail. When this happens, Desert Truck Service will find the correct replacement starter and get you back on the road in no time.